DNA

Sarah is 18, but her life is far from any other high school senior's. Her mother died when she was 16; her father became a drug addict, smoker, alcoholic, and Sarah's worst nightmare. Why? Well, he abuses her.

Sarah doesn't tell anyone though, not even her best (and only) friend Lexi because her father told her that he would hurt her little sisters that her mother left her to raise when it became clear her father wouldn't be able to.

Sarah goes to work one day expecting it to be like every other day. Little does she know she is in for one heck of a surprise.

17. Court is in Session

Sarah’s POV:

It was the Wednesday after Louis and I had ‘gone public’ with our relationship. So far I have received a couple of hurtful things on twitter, but nothing I couldn’t handle. Today however, was the court case against my father for the custody of my sisters. I had woken up and immediately ran into the bathroom where I threw up what was left of the dinner I had had last night, and then got ready. I wore a white dress with a black belt, flats, and blazer. I dress the girls in matching black and white checker dresses and Louis wore a black suit.

We said our goodbyes to the boys and Lexi and Katie who had been staying with us for the week and got in the car after putting Lilliana and Autumn in the back. We were about 10 minutes away when I felt Louis’ hand on my knee. He turns to look at me when we come to a stoplight. “What’s wrong love?”

“I’m just really nervous. What’s going to happen today?”

“I don’t know,” he replied, rubbing circles on my knee in an effort to comfort me. “But we will just have to hope for the best, won’t we?” he said, trying to convince the both of us. I nodded my head and gave him a weak smile as we fell back into a comfortable but nervous silence.

We pulled up into a parking lot and got out of the car. I had Lilliana on my hip and Autumn was holding Louis’ and I’s hands as we walked into the clean marble lobby. We all walked up to the reception desk where a bored lady was sitting there on the computer. Louis asked her where we should go and she pointed us down a long corridor. “Go down there and make a left turn at the end. First door to the right.” We thanked her and started walking.

When we got closer to the door I saw that the name plaque had Channing Jones on it in bold lettering. I guess this was the lawyer we were assigned. Louis was now holding my hand instead of Autumn who he had taken into his arms, holding her closer to him and giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. We walked into the room after receiving a “come in” from him. “So, you are my family today?” We nodded as we sat down in the two chairs he pointed to, pulling the two girls onto our laps. “So you are Sarah. Is this Lilliana?” he asked pointing to her in my lap. I nodded, not fully trusting my voice. That’s when I felt Louis squeeze my hand again. I looked up at him and he gave me a reassuring smile. “And is this Autumn?” he asked again, pointing to the shy little girl on Louis’ lap.

Louis bounced her up and down, making her giggle into his shirt where she was hiding her head. He pulled her away from him and turned her around. “Yes it is,” he tickled her once more, letting her find her way back to her hiding place.

“They are lovely girls. Can you tell me a little about why you are asking for this? It is a big responsibility; especially for someone your age. Why are you doing it?”

I heard soft snores coming from Autumn’s mouth and Lilliana was too young to understand, so I thought it would be okay to talk about it. “Well my father is an alcoholic, drug abuser, smoker, and he abused me. I just don’t want them to have to live their life like I did. I didn’t tell anybody though because he threatened to hurt them if I did.”

“Wow. Well Sarah, we will do everything in our power to win this for you. However, we have a rule that might change everything. In order for anyone under the age of 21 to legally have custody of children, they must have another person that can take care of them as well. Just as sort of a back-up. I know it is short notice, but do you know anyone who might do it?”

I nodded my head yes. “Can Louis and I talk about it for a minute? Please?”

“Of course Sarah. I will just be outside in the hallway.”

“Thank you,” Louis told him as he flashed a smile and closed the door.

Before I could even get anything out, Louis spoke up. “Sarah, I want to do it. I want to help you raise your sisters. I want to help you get through this. Get through everything. Please,” he looked at me with pleading eyes.

I giggled slightly before saying, “Louis, I was going to ask you if you would be up for it. It looks like you are, but are you ready for this? It will be a lot of work. Do you want to?”

“Of course I want to. I am going to be sticking around in your life for as long as you will let me and then some," he said. And then he said the three words I have been waiting to hear since we started dating. "I love you."

Just then he pulled me in for a passionate kiss that lasted about 2 minutes. "I love you too," I told him once we had pulled apart, smiles on both of our faces.

“I love you more. Come on, let’s tell him.”

Just then Channing Jones poked his head back in the room. “Have you decided yet?”

Louis and I looked at each other and nodded our heads.

“Great, who will it be then?” he asked, sitting down behind the big brown desk.

“It will be Louis, Louis Tomlinson,” I said, squeezing his hands.

The lawyer smiled at us. “I am assuming that is you,” he said looking at Louis.

“Yes sir, that would be me.”

“Well Louis, I need to ask you a few questions.” He followed this statement with a multitude of questions, including one asking how he is related to us, to which his answer was he was my boyfriend.

Channing Jones smiled and told us the rules of the courtroom before telling us to wait out in the lobby for about 10 minutes and someone would come and get us to take us to the courtroom we would be in.

We walked silently to the lobby after thanking him. I used those ten minutes to get my sisters ready. Louis and I told Autumn what was going to happen, and I handed Lillana over to him, since he was going to be watching her and Autumn. Now all that was left to do was wait.

~

"Sarah, Autumn, Lilliana Kate and Louis Tomlinson?" we all looked up to see a short woman with grey hair.

"Yes, that's us," I said standing up.

"Well it's time. Are you ready?" I nodded in response as Louis stood up with Lilliana on his hip and grabbed my hand, Autumn already holding the one on the other side of me. "Follow me," the woman said.

"This is the room, just go on in and find your lawyer. You will sit where his is in the front row on the right," she said leaving.

Louis' grip on my hand tightened as he said, "You're going to do great. I promise. I'm here, okay? I love you."

I squeezed his hand in response. He looked down at me and smiled at me sadly. "It's going to be okay," I heard him reassure one more time before I opened the big doors.

We walked up the aisle in the center of the room. I looked around, studying the room. I saw our lawyer, a jury made up of about 20 people, my father's lawyer, and then him. There was my father in an orange jumpsuit surround by police. I had Louis tell them they were going to have to arrest him to get him here, and that it was crucial that they do so. It was weird that they had listened to me, but I was thankful none the less. After we got to our spot, we heard a voice say, "all rise for the honorable Judge Elizabeth Williams."

We stood as a frail older lady in a huge black robe came in. "Court is now in session," she said, banging on the gavel twice.

First up was my father. It was so hard to watch him go up to the stand and answer the questions about his past and current life. To my surprise he answered truthfully. After he was finished, the judge called me up. "So Sarah, please tell the jury why you want custody of your sisters."

"Well, my father is not only a smoking, drug abusing, alcoholic but he also abused me for the past two years, and I just don't want my sisters to grow up like that." I noticed sympathetic glances from the jury.

"And who else will be adopting them?"

"Louis Tomlinson, he is right over there."

"Where will they be living?"

"65763 Birdwell Avenue." (A/N this is made up. I promise.)

"Okay, thank you Sarah. That is all we need from you. Will Autumn Kate please come to the stand?"

Autumn walked up there and sat down, following all the instructions we gave her. "Autumn, I have two questions for you, okay?"

"Okay," she responded.

"Do you like living with Sarah and Louis, or would you rather live with your dad?"

"I like living with Sarah and Louis. My daddy scares me."

The judge nodded her head before continuing. "And Autumn, do you wish the same for your sister, Lilliana?"

Autumn nodded her head up and down hard. "Yes please."

"Okay Autumn, that will be all. You can go back now," the judge said, giving Autumn a reassuring smile.

Autumn skipped over to me and sat in between me and Louis. "Can we please have Sarah Kate's lawyer to the stand?"

After hearing from both lawyers, the judge had the jury go into a room to talk and decided for 5 minutes on whether or not Louis and I will get the girls. Once they left Autumn came up and sat in my lap. "I think we're going to win," she whispered in my ear before going back over to Louis. I sat there smiling at her words until the jury and judge came back in.

"Jury have you made your decision?" the judge asked.

The representative for them stood up as the others nodded. "We have decided that Sarah and Louis should have custody of Autumn and Lilliana" he said, giving me a smile which I returned.

"I agree. Sarah Hope Kate and Louis William Tomlinson, congratulations. You have full custody of Autumn Grace Kate and Lilliana Taylor Kate," she said, sending us a warm smile which Louis and I returned.

Before we left I felt someone looking at me so I turned around and saw my dad sending me death glares. I shook it off though and walked out hand in hand with Louis with the girls on our hips and smiles on our faces.

After we had finally finished signing all the needed forms, we got to car where Louis, Autumn and I all started dancing. After we had calmed down, Louis pulled out of the parking lot and started driving home. He put his hand on my knee, rubbing it subconsciously. We pulled up to a stoplight and Louis turned to me. "We did it. And now we are going home to tell the boys, Lexi, and Katie that you, Autumn, Lilliana and I are now a family. I love you and will protect all three of you until I die," Louis said leaning over and pecking my lips before the light turned green.

"I love you too," I said, taking his hand off my leg and in mine. Finally, I had Louis, Autumn, and Lilliana. We were the perfectly imperfect family, and I couldn't be any happier.